Basic research concepts

1. Conducting Research

2. Research
• Research is the systematic
collection, analysis and
interpretation of data to answer a
certain question or solve a problem
• It is crucial to follow cascading
scientific steps when conducting
one’s research

3. Steps of Scientific Research
Selection of area
Selection of topic
Crude research question
no answer
Refined research question
Research hypothesis, goals and objectives
Study design
Population & sampling
Variables confounding bias
Research tools
Pilot study
Work plan
Collection of data
Data management
Interpretation
Reporting
no need for study
answers found
Literature review
Ethical issues

4. Research Process
Formulate a
Question
Select an Appropriate
Research Design
Collect Relevant
Data
Interpret
Findings
Publish
Findings
Review the Available
Literature

5. 2 Forms of Social Research
• Basic or Pure Research:
– aim is to develop a body of general
knowledge for the understanding of
human social behaviour by means of a
combination of empirical enquiry and
application of theory.
• Applied or Policy Oriented Research:
– aim is to provide knowledge and
information that can be used to
influence social policy.

6. Dimensions of Research
• A. Style of Research
– Exploratory
– Descriptive
– Explanatory
– Case
• B. Purpose or Focus
– Basic
– Applied

7. Selection of Research Area
• Selection of this broad entity
of research is based on the
following:
– researcher’s:
• Specialty
• Interest
• Scientific background
• Experience
– Actual need for research in this
area
– Available resources (interest of
funding body)

8. Selection of Research Topics
The priority of a topic for research
depends on:
– The characteristics of the problem (topic):
• Impact on health:
– Magnitude
– Seriousness
– Preventability
– Curability
• Available interventions
• Proposed solutions
– The characteristics of the proposed study:
• Feasibility
• Cost-effectiveness
• Applicability of the results

9. Research question
The investigator must make sure that:
• He has a research question
• The question is clear and specific
• It reflects the objectives of the study
• It has no answer by common sense
• It has no answer in the LITERATURE
• Finding an answer to the question will
solve or at least help in solving the
problem to be studied.

10. Doing a Literature Review

11. What is a “Literature Review”?
• “…a literature review surveys
scientific articles, books,
medical journals,
dissertations and other
sources […] relevant to a
particular issue, area of
research, or theory, providing
a description, summary, and
critical evaluation of each
work.”

12. Literature Review as a Process

13. Components of Lit. Review
• Development of the literature review
requires four stages:
– Problem formulation—which topic or field is
being examined and what are its component
issues?
– Literature search—finding materials relevant to
the subject being explored
– Data evaluation—determining which literature
makes a significant contribution to the
understanding of the topic
– Analysis and interpretation—discussing the
findings and conclusions of pertinent literature

14. Working with Literature
Working with
Literature
Find it! Manage it! Use it! Review it!
Knowing the
literature types
Reading
efficiently
Choosing your research topic
Understanding the
lit review’s purpose
Using available resources
Keeping track
of references
Developing your question
Ensuring adequate
coverage
Honing your
search skills
Writing relevant annotations
Arguing your
rationale
Informing your work with
theory
Designing
method
Writing
purposefully
Working on
style and tone

15. Sources of Literature
Journal articles:
• these are good sources, especially
for up-to-date information. They
are frequently used in literature
reviews because they offer a
relatively concise, up-to-date
format for research.
• Depending on the publication,
these materials may be refereed
materials.

16. Sources of Literature (cont.)
Government/corporate reports:
• Many government departments and
corporations commission carry out
research.
• Their published findings can provide
a useful source of information,
depending on your field of study.

17. Sources of Literature (cont.)
Theses and dissertations: these can be
useful sources of information. However
there are disadvantages:
• they can be difficult to obtain since they
are not published, but are generally only
available from the library or interlibrary
systems
• the student who carried out the research
may not be an experienced researcher
and therefore you might have to treat their
findings with more caution than published
research.

18. Sources of Literature (cont.)
Internet: the fastest-growing source of
information is on the Internet.
• bear in mind that anyone can post
information on the Internet so the quality
may not be reliable
• the information you find may be intended
for a general audience and so not be
suitable for inclusion in your literature
review (information for a general
audience is usually less detailed)